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| Iraq-Jordan |
| U.S. retakes main Iraq roads |
| 2004-04-13 |
| Several interesting things in this article. U.S. forces used heavy firepower Monday to regain control of strategic roads around Iraq (No speicifcs on what the ’heavy firepower’ did) as about 3,000 American soldiers massed outside this southern city in an attempt to force the surrender of a Shiite cleric and his militias. Despite sporadic fighting in the south and west of the country, U.S. officials said they were giving negotiations a chance before moving against Sunni militiamen in Fallujah, where a tense cease-fire held for a second day, and Shiite fighters who are loyal to cleric Muqtada al-Sadr. But top U.S. commanders made it clear that time was running out for a negotiated settlement with the cleric. No indication that they are backing off on Fallujah, which is good. "The mission of U.S. forces is to kill or capture Muqtada Sadr," said Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez, commander of ground forces in Iraq. The threat came as the anti-American Shiite cleric ordered his followers Monday to leave the government offices they had been occupying in several cities. Coalition forces have gradually isolated the militias. But they had been wary of launching a broader campaign for fear of further antagonizing the country’s majority Shiite Muslim population during last weekend’s Arbaeen religious festival. With tens of thousands of pilgrims now leaving the region, American military officials indicated U.S. troops would apply more pressure to the 30-year-old al-Sadr and his followers. Al-Sadr is controlling his militias -- with as many as 6,000 fighters -- from Najaf, Iraq’s holiest city. American military commanders said they would not hesitate to enter Najaf and Karbala in their efforts to capture al-Sadr, but they realized how sensitive such a move would be. "My intent is to destroy Sadr’s militia, absolutely destroy it," said Col. Dana Pittard, commander of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team of the 1st Infantry Division, which is leading the operation dubbed Operation Duke Fortitude. "And then to capture or kill Sadr. That is our mission. We’re just waiting to be unleashed." Also good news! The turmoil to the north in Fallujah calmed a bit more Monday as negotiators backed by the Iraqi Governing Council sought a peaceful remedy to the fighting that began 13 days ago when four American contractors were ambushed and their bodies mutilated. U.S. officials described the insurgents as a mix of Saddam Hussein loyalists and foreign Islamic fighters. Coalition authorities said the bloodshed would not deter the Bush administration from transferring power to an independent Iraqi government on June 30, as scheduled. Also good news! I am sure that some of this is posturing to convince various people in Iraq that the US is serious about Fallujah and Sadr, but at the same time I am reasonably confident that Fallujah will be taken by force and all the jihadis and saddamites killed or captured. The risks of letting them good are far too great. |
| Posted by:Phil B |
| #6 Oh come now! Duke Fortitude = D.F. D.F.= Destroy Fallujah End of story. |
| Posted by: Zenster 2004-04-13 12:33:10 PM |
| #5 Duke Fortidtude I expect they didn't want to use Duke Nukem since it might give the wrong impression. ;) |
| Posted by: eLarson 2004-04-13 10:40:41 AM |
| #4 A 2,500-strong U.S. force, backed by tanks and artillery, pushed to the outskirts of the Shiite holy city of Najaf on Tuesday for a showdown with a radical cleric. On the way to Najaf, the U.S. force's 80-vehicle convoy was ambushed Monday night by gunmen firing small arms and setting of roadside bombs north of the city. One soldier was killed and an American civilian contractor was wounded, officers in the convoy said. The top U.S. commander in Iraq, Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez, said their mission was to "capture or kill" radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr. Units set up a cordon on approaches to the city, barring militiamen from leaving. Showtime. |
| Posted by: Steve 2004-04-13 10:06:41 AM |
| #3 Winston Churchill said he didn't want to inform any mother or father of their child's death in Operation Bunny Jump |
| Posted by: Shipman 2004-04-13 8:02:11 AM |
| #2 Depends on what mood the PR people are in. Often they're semi-random combinations involving the unit's nickname, like all those "Ivy" operations for the 4th Infantry, and the "Iron" operations for 1st Armored. One of the Marines' nicknames is "Devil Dogs". Start finding high ground if word of operations called "Stone Devil" or "Rabid Dog" comes round, though. That'll be hell or high water for sure. |
| Posted by: Mitch H. 2004-04-13 7:31:10 AM |
| #1 "Duke Fortidtude"? Who comes up with these names anyway? |
| Posted by: LaBud 2004-04-13 6:01:42 AM |